Solskjaer admits Man Utd lacked composure against Liverpool but hails ‘excellent’ Paul Pogba for selfless role

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER piled praise on Paul Pogba for his selfless role in Manchester United’s goalless draw at Liverpool.

The Red Devils stayed three points clear of their fiercest rivals with a 0-0 stalemate at Anfield on Sunday.

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Paul Pogba impressed during Man Utd’s 0-0 draw at Liverpool despite being played out of position to nullify the threat posed by Andrew RobertsonCredit: PA:Press Association

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Solskjaer was full of praise for Pogba’s selfless performance at AnfieldCredit: AP:Associated Press

Pogba, 27, was asked to play wide on the right in a bid to help null the threat from Liverpool’s left flank.

With Aaron Wan-Bissaka kept busy with Sadio Mane, Pogba was tasked with tracking back and covering flying full-back Andrew Robertson.

And, despite often being considered an attacking playmaker, the 2018 World Cup winner excelled.

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After the game, Solskjaer told Sky Sports: “I thought Paul was absolutely brilliant today.

“We knew he had to do a job defensively to help us with Robertson.

“And I thought he was excellent and should have got the goal his performance deserved.”

However, Solskjaer did suggest Man Utd have plenty of things to ‘improve on’, including their composure.

United had a couple of gilt-edged chances to steal all three points, only to be denied superbly by Reds stopper Alisson.

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Solskjaer continued: “I think we grew in the game and toward the end it was there for us to win.

“We created two massive chances and it was two brilliant saves by the keeper.

“We can play better than this, we can be more composed, we can have the ball more…

“We had to defend really often today… There are a couple of things for us to improve on.”

But for Pogba, it’s been a strong and much-needed return to form having often been confined to the bench this season.

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Pogba almost scored but for a superb save from Alisson in the Reds’ goalCredit: Eddie Keogh Telegraph Media Group

Ahead of the game at Liverpool, the Frenchman admitted he ‘hates’ being amongst the substitutes.

Pogba claimed: “I hate to be on the bench, I don’t like it.

“It doesn’t mean that other players don’t deserve to be playing but for myself, I don’t like it.

“I’m a winner, I just want to play football and help my team.

“When I’m on the bench and I don’t come on, I feel like I can’t help my team-mates so I feel bad and I don’t like it.”

Man Utd next face Fulham on Wednesday in their quest to win their first Premier League title since 2012-13, Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season.

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